ROHAN Smith has admitted his first few months at Odsal have been a “rollercoaster” as he bids to end the season on a high in tomorrow’s Championship Shield final.

The Bulls host crisis-torn Sheffield Eagles in a game that will see the gate receipts shared between the clubs but prize money of £50,000 going to the winners.

Smith was unable to steer his side into the top four at the end of the regular season and there have also been off-field problems, with players and staff paid a week late at the end of July.

Yet the Australian believes that winning the Shield would lay the foundations for a solid platform to build on next season as a raft of players prepare to say farewell to the Bulls tomorrow.

Head coach Smith, who is believed to be tracking Halifax's Scott Murrell, said: “It would be a positive finish to a rollercoaster four months since I got here.

“I'm not going to comment on anything that happened previously to that because I'm not privy to that information or those situations.

“There have been some highs and lows since I've been here and we’ve had a lot to deal with as a club – not just a team – so I'm all about getting on with the job and what comes next is the most important thing.

“That is this weekend's game and putting in a strong performance against Sheffield, so then we can reflect and build towards 2017.”

Cash-strapped Sheffield were thrashed 80-0 at Odsal two weeks ago and have had the threat of administration and possible liquidation hanging over them.

Yet Mark Aston’s men won 46-32 at Halifax in last week’s semi-final and Smith added: “I'm a big believer that if you play well then the scoreline looks after itself.

“I envisage that Sheffield are going to throw everything at us early on to try and disrupt us and build their own confidence.

“They showed with their performance at Halifax last week that they have still got plenty in the tank.

“We played well two weeks ago but that counts for nothing tomorrow – we have to start again.

“There are a lot of experienced players in that Sheffield team who have been there and done it on the big occasion.

“We are under no illusions it's going to be a tough battle.”

On Sheffield’s financial woes, Smith said: “There seems to have been a lot of that since I came to the club.

“There always seems to be a dilemma every time a team are about to play Bradford, so I'm not reading too much into it.

“I expect professional rugby league players to come and have a dig every week, but obviously with it being a final, everyone wants to win something.

“I think players play for the love of the game, not money, and I expect Sheffield to come and play strongly.”

Bulls hooker Adam O’Brien admits he will be sad to see so many of his team-mates leave Odsal.

Skipper Adrian Purtell and Epalahame Lauaki could be among several players making their final appearance for the club tomorrow.

O'Brien said: “There will probably be some tears shed because I've known the likes of Addy and Olbison a long, long time and since I broke into the team as a 16-year-old.

“Hopefully we can win the trophy and then have some happy tears afterwards.

“We beat them 80-0 but they went and put 40 points on Halifax last week.

“Halifax have beaten us a few times this year, so we need to put in a performance and win the Shield.

“I've been through some rough times at this club and some good ones as well.

“It has been a poor season for us but hopefully we can finish on a high and lift the trophy.”

Bulls winger Danny Williams, who has yet to secure a club for next season, is among the long list of players leaving.

Williams said: “I’ve really enjoyed myself in the past few games so hopefully I’ll be involved this weekend.

“I’ve absolutely loved my time at Bradford and it would be great to leave the club on a high.”